FRS 001E —
Sec. 001 —
(1 unit) — CRN 55871 — F 10:00-10:50 AM 1515 Newton Ct, Room
320
Know Your Brain: Exciting Developments in Neuroscience
Instructor: Marie Burns, Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences,
School of Medicine
Description: This course will introduce students to
basic neurobiology
while addressing common sociological and philosophical topics frequently on the
mind of college freshmen: who am I and how do I fit in? The central thesis is
that we are each unique largely because of our unique brains, and
that this individuality
is to be cherished and marveled. The course will present the current hypotheses
of modern neuroscience about the workings of the brain: its
circuitry, its synapses.
Course material will include the basics of neural development, normal
neurophysiology,
what goes amiss in mental illness and drug abuse and addiction. The course will
encourage attitudes of acceptance and tolerance for individual differences and
an understanding of the mentally ill and addicted.
Format: Class will begin with an introductory standard lecture
to familiarize students with the brain's most basic anatomy, and the structure
and function of its primary means of intercellular communication: the chemical
synapse. Subsequent meetings will be discussions of the assigned reading, which
will be taken from Joseph LeDoux's recent book, "Synaptic Self". This
pop-science, but highly accurate, account of the latest thinking in
cellular neuroscience
provides a firm basis for reflection and self-discovery. Who am I,
and why? LeDoux
examines these questions with modern neuroscience answers. There will also be
ample opportunity for more philosophical discussions, such as the
interplay between
neuroscience and spirituality, one's fate and one's genes, and mental illness
and culpability. Each class period will be led by 1-2 students
assigned to "sponsor"
the leading of the day's topic. The students will meet with the
instructor ahead
of time to gain necessary background and help with the material.
These oral presentations
will be graded on 1) organization 2) clarity and 3) ability to
generate discussion.
The final report will be on a topic selected by the student with instructor's
approval and will emphasize simple library-based (i.e. pubmed)
research in support
of a thesis. Grading: 1/3: final written
report (5 pages)
on approved topic 1/3: oral presentations 1/3: class discussion.
About the Instructor: